From the JCHS Executive Director

Like many other historical organizations, the Jackson County Historical Society has begun the long process of digitizing our vast archival holdings.

Currently, staff and volunteers are working on scanning the large photograph collection that contains over 25,000 images.

Photographs are the number one requested item to view in our archive center which is one reason we chose to start there.

JCHS Administrative Offices

JCHS Statement on Pioneer Spring Cabin

The Jackson County Historical Society supports the wide-ranging efforts of individuals, groups and others who are interested in sharing the rich history of Jackson County.To that end, JCHS maintains an extensive archive of historic papers, property records, court files and images that it readily shares with others.Among JCHS holdings is an extensive scrapbook that contains information, newspaper clippings and other materials related to the “Pioneer Cabin” which is the subject of extensive community discussion.The discussion has brought much deserved attention to the challenges of the overlooked and neglected city-owned historic property.While JCHS has an interest in sharing the history of the region, it is not interested in assuming responsibility for the future use, preservation or other alternatives being discussed for the log cabin structure. We are happy to share what we know in support of the efforts of others and intend to make some key information available online through our this link. Many successful preservation efforts in the City of Independence have been spearheaded by interested citizens and others who championed the cause and took on the project. That is how the 1859 Jail Museum, the Vaile Victorian Mansion, the Bingham-Waggoner Estate and the Chicago & Alton Depot were saved.We do not want nor or able to take on ownership of any additional historic properties. We fully understand the challenges of preserving, maintaining and interpreting historic properties.In 1959, JCHS saved the 1859 Jail Museum from potential demolition. The property, located at 217 N. Main, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the oldest historic property on the Independence Square. In 1964, JCHS purchased and subsequently restored the John B. Wornall House in Kansas City. In the 1990s JCHS transferred the property to a non-profit which has done a wonderful job with that property and also taking over the Alexander Majors House.The 1859 Jail Museum will turn 160 years old in 2019 and JCHS has spent six decades owning and maintaining the historic property which is visited by over 8,000 people annually and used by the Independence School District for first-grade social studies programming. JCHS will be hiring a preservation firm this fall to thoroughly evaluate the building and provide guidance, develop a plan, and make short and long-term recommendation for work, projects and proper maintenance for the building. We anticipate a capital campaign to address building needs and update the historic interpretation based on information from the report. We wish the city and residents of Independence well with this project.

JCHS Acquires Major Regional Photographic Collection

In July, JCHS formally announced it had acquired a regional photographic collection from Chris Wilborn.

The photographs go back to the early 1900s and may include over 500,000, if not more, images.

“I kept everything,” Chris Wilborn said in a newspaper article about the acquisition. “My dad kept all the negatives he shot.”

JCHS plans to scan the photographic negatives and eventually make them available online.

“The end goal is all online through JCHS,” said Executive Director Steve Noll who helped arrange the acquisition.

JCHS helps publish new book about Paul Henning the creator of The Beverly Hillbillies

The Jackson County Historical Society has been instrumental in the publication of a new memoir about Paul Henning - the Kansas City-area native who was the creator of the Beverly Hillbillies.

The 280-page page, The First Beverly Hillbilly: The Untold Story of the Creator of Rural TV Comedy is based on an unpublished manuscript by Henning's wife Ruth which was found in our archives.

The book shares Henning’s amazing life - working in early Kansas City radio, writing for celebrities and creating the widely popular television shows Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres.

"Hands-down the funniest book video and the sweetest homage to a local creative talent that you will ever see." SCROLL DOWN TO READ DETAILS "Half LA LA LAND and half CARPOOL KARAOKE-Kansas City Style."

Books are available for purchase at the Jackson County Historical Society bookshop in the Truman Courthouse or online at a special website for this project.

The manuscript, completed in 1994 was never published, but later was found in the Jackson County Historical Society archives among the papers of local historian and journalist Sue Gentry and a friend of the Hennings.

Jackson County Historical Society is partnering to publish another regional history book published through Mid-Continent Public Library’s Woodneath Press.

The next history book project is Frontlines to Headlines: The World War I Overseas Dispatches of Otto P. Higgins by local historian by James J. Heiman. Publication of the book was recently announced the book will be released in April 2019.

The book is a narrative review of the complete collection of 218 overseas World War I dispatches, which includes a sampling of dispatches and 42 field photographs by Kansas City Star journalist Otto P. Higgins and published between May 1918 and July 1919.

Both the dispatches and the photographs were created by embedded divisional correspondent Otto P. Higgins and published in The Kansas City Star between May 1918 and July 1919.

Descriptions of the dispatches are presented in narrative form in the book and organized sequentially in monthly installments by date of composition, followed by a representative sampling of photographs and intact articles.

Hattie was 9-years-old when auctioned and purchased by Col. Charles E. Kearney for $1,300. Hattie lived the rest of her life, long after emancipation, with the Kearney family in Kansas City and is buried in the family plot at Union Cemetery.

Surrounding the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) annual conference in KC, Stopping Stones will install a hand-stamped, brass plaque honoring Hattie on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 5:30 PM.

Hattie’s Stopping Stone will be placed in the front walkway of the Harris-Kearney House, 4000 Baltimore Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. During the installation ceremony participants will honor Hattie’s sacrifices, tell her story, note the historical context of her time, and catalyze the audience to take action within the local community.

Selections from Dana Mengel's Oregon Trail Suite - which Jackson County Historical Society premiered in May - were aired on Hawaii Public Radio in a show featuring music by American composers and places.

The pieces were highlighted by Julie Anderson on her show Evening Concert. Anderson was in the audience at the National Frontier Trails Museum when seven selections for Mengel's original composition were performed.

Mengel has composed several pieces based on the history of the region including several pieces inspired by the paintings of Missouri artist George Caleb Bingham and his yet unperformed 21-movement Oregon Trail Suite.

This video is the first public performance of seven selections from the suite where Anderson learned about Mengel's new musical work.

The Jackson County Historical Society supports the wide-ranging efforts of individuals, groups and others who are interested in sharing the rich history of Jackson County.

To that end, JCHS maintains an extensive archive of historic papers, property records, court files and images that it readily shares with others.

Among JCHS holdings is an extensive scrapbook that contains information, newspaper clippings and other materials related to the “Pioneer Cabin” which is the subject of extensive community discussion.

The discussion has brought much deserved attention to the challenges of the overlooked and neglected city-owned historic property.

While JCHS has an interest in sharing the history of the region, it is not interested in assuming responsibility for the future use, preservation or other alternatives being discussed for the log cabin structure.

The award, affectionately known as The Crosby, recognizes the continued accomplishments of the National Frontier Trails Museum for promoting the cultural and natural heritage resources and historic preservation, especially those which add benefit to the public and the states of Kansas and Missouri.

The award will be presented on Sat., Aug. 11 at 2 pm at the NFTM located in Independence, Mo. The public is invited to attend. The museum is owned and operated by the City of Independence.

A new biography of James A. Reed recounts his extraordinary life - Kansas City trial attorney, politician, US Senator and Democratic candidate for president in 1928 and 1932.

The biography - James A. Reed: Legendary Attorney; Marplot in the United States Senate was written by J. Michael Cronan, a retired Kansas City attorney. This is his first book.

Reed was a major legal figure in the Kansas City community and involved in several high-profile cases including the sone of Jesse James, the Swope murder and the Myrtle Bennett trial - several of which had been living history trials put on by Jackson County Historical Society.

The Jackson County Historical Society (JCHS) seeks final proposals from qualified architecture firms to develop a Historic Structure Report (HSR) for the 1859 Jail Museum, in conformance with the provisions of the US Department of the Interior Preservation Brief 43 guidelines, specifically the treatment and work recommendations section.

JCHS has owned the building since 1959 and used the space for museum exhibits, school tours, offices, collections storage, and event space. JCHS seeks to gain knowledge and insight into the historic nature of the building as well as to guide short- and long-term preservation efforts through the creation of the HSR.

This project will be financed with internal JCHS funds.

Proposal Contact

If you have questions about this RFP, please submit them to Caitlin Eckard via email at ceckard@jchs.org by July 10th, 2018.

Tours of 1859 Jail Museum

Prospective bidders are highly encouraged to visit the 1859 Jail prior to bidding. Please contact Caitlin Eckard, at ceckard@jchs.org to set up a tour of the building.

Submission of Proposal

Prospective firms shall submit one (1) electronic copy, sent via email, of their proposal and fee schedule no later than 5pm on Monday, July 16th, 2018 to ceckard@jchs.org

All submissions must be received by the RFP closing date and time. Incomplete submissions and submissions received after the closing date will not be accepted.

Background Information

1859 Jail

The brick, Federal style house and adjoining limestone jail was designed by Asa Beebe Cross, "the pioneer architect" based out of Kansas City. The original construction cost was $11,844.20 in 1859 (the equivalent of $325,893 in 2013).

In between the jail's construction in 1859 and the final decommissioning in 1933 a lot happened in the limestone cells. Guerilla raider, William Quantrill, met an angry mob upon his release from the facility. Scores of women and children were detained behind bars during Order Number 11. The infamous Frank James roamed the halls of the jail and read many a classic book in his cell. In the 1900s, inmates were chained together and put to work building new roads for a rapidly developing county.

After the last jailer hung up his keys, the county found a use for the jail and home when it housed several offices, work training programs, and government bureaus during the Great Depression. In 1958, a used building materials dealer nearly got permission to demolish the buildings and the right to claim the salvaged stone, brick and timber as the price for his work.

Luckily, the abandoned buildings were given a new lease on life when a group of civic minded citizens realized that there was yet another historic role for the unassuming two-story house at the corner of Main Street and Truman Road.

Ever since that brush with the wrecking ball, the Jackson County Historical Society has owned and operated the 1859 Jail Museum. The brick and limestone buildings hold an intense history that starts with the Missouri-Kansas Border War through the Great Depression.

The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Copies can be downloaded at http://jchs.org/1859-old-jail). The history of the building is also told in the JCHS book Lock Down which includes information about the people held in the cells, the jailors who inhabited the home and the changes in decor over the years.

Scope of Services

JCHS seeks to hire a firm with a strong background in developing Historic Structure Reports. The chosen firm will work closely with the Project Director, project team staff, and other stakeholders to develop an effective and useful HSR and resulting actions and policies.

The intent of the HSR is to influence the short- and long-range planning of JCHS in regards to the 1859 Jail use as a museum and guide plans for improvements to the building.

The firm selected will have experience working with historic facilities, be knowledgeable about the unique needs of a museum, and have a proven track record of budget considerations.

In preparing a response to the RFP, the firm shall propose and describe the detailed Scope of Services for this specific project based on the information above, and in accordance with the list below:

1. General: This project will follow Preservation Brief 43, The Preparation and Use of Historic Structure Reports (HSR).

a. The HSR must be complete and comprehensive addressing all aspects of the property including site, interior, and exterior features.

b. The HSR must provide an evaluation of significance, discuss the historic preservation objectives, and select one treatment (preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, or reconstruction).

c. This project will be carried out by project personnel who meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards (as published in the Federal Register of September 29, 1983).

2. Existing condition survey: A completed survey to document the physical spaces and elements and to assess the current condition of building materials and systems. The survey is expected to address:

3. Measured Drawings and Record Photography: A review to collect historic documents/photographs as well as preparation of measured drawings and photographic documentation to portray the current condition of the property. The measured drawings and record photography to follow The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and guidelines or Architectural and Engineering Documentation.

4. Suggest Treatment Approach (Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration or Reconstruction): Based upon the intended uses of the property recommend a treatment and recommended techniques for exterior and interior work consistent with the option.

5. Development of Work Recommendations: Based on the research and study develop and prioritize a set of work recommendations and estimated work budget remaining consistent with the above-suggested treatment approach. It would be expected that the work recommendations take into account applicable laws, regulations, codes and functional requirements with specific attention to life safety, fire protection, energy conservations, and abatement of hazardous materials and accessibility for persons with disabilities.

6. Report Preparations: Prior to drafting the final report it is expected the principal investigator would meet with the JCHS Project Team to discuss an outline of the report for consideration and review. JCHS may ask to meet with the contractor at any time to review project process and status.

7. Final Report: The final report will be presented in the form of a printed, illustrated manuscript as well as electronic format. JCHS will receive a minimum of three copies of the printed document.

The report is to include:

a. A narrative that documents the evolution of the building, its physical description, existing conditions and an evaluation of significance; and

b. A discussion of historic preservation objectives, together with recommendations for a treatment approach and for specific work. This information will be used to seek financial support for funders, foundations and a possible capital campaign.

Proposals will be evaluated within approximately two weeks of the bid closing, and bidders will be notified of their status as soon as possible thereafter.

Proposals

This Request for Proposal does not obligate JCHS to award any specific project. JCHS reserves the right to cancel this solicitation or to change its scope if doing so would be in the best interest of JCHS. JCHS also reserves the right to waive irregularities in proposal content or to request supplemental information from a prospective bidder.

All documents in this package do not constitute a legal offer. A legally binding contract will not be formed until all parties have fully executed a written contract that incorporates all mutually agreed-upon instructions, specifications, conditions, and fees.

Minimum Proposal Contents

1. Project understanding and description of proposed work;

2. Project timetable and work plan;

3. Company profile and identification of Bidder personnel and any subcontractors who will supervise and/or conduct the work of the project, including details of their training and experience, and where Bidder personnel and subcontractors are located; and

4. Detailed cost proposal for services.

Proposal Evaluation

Jackson County Historical Society will evaluate proposals on the basis of the following criteria:

The iconic Stephenson Restaurant sign - saved by the Jackson County Historical Society - has found a new home with the prospect that it will be someday be restored and put on public display.

JCHS has transferred the sign to a The Lumi Neon Museum, a Kansas City-area non-profit which rescues, restores and illuminates vintage Kansas City neon. The museum currently has over 14 neon Kansas City neon signs.